Moving water has always been a touchy topic in Colorado, a raft of controversy flowing out to sea.

But all the while debate rages over water conservation, dam projects, agricultural uses, ecology and in-stream water rights, the reality remains that Colorado’s rivers continue to serve as a magnet to the masses.

They come for all reasons to the river, be it recreation or meditation, invigoration or contemplation. There is healing power in moving water, just as there is opportunity.

I’ve lived within a short walk to one of Colorado’s most overburdened waterways for more than 15 years now, taking stock of the Eagle River as it runs through its rapidly developing namesake county since the upstream mine near the ghost town of Gilman was declared a federal Superfund site. Heavy metals leaching from the Eagle Mine killed the upper reaches of the river in the early 1990s, the contamination since contained and the river restored to represent one of the federal program’s shining success stories several million dollars later.

As they frolic in whitewater rafts and kayaks or cast flies along the banks, most visitors are unaware of the Eagle’s tarnished history, as recent as it may be. They are focused instead upon what the river offers now — a cool, refreshing remedy on a hot summer afternoon — and gladly partake of its soothing tonic. Despite its imperfections, they come from miles away to savor the experience.

The Eagle River is not a unique story in Colorado. Mining, overgrazing, hasty development and a lengthy laundry list of industrial and agricultural abuses have led many of our state’s streams to a similar fate.

Currently at the top of Colorado’s “Most Endangered Rivers” list is the Cache La Poudre. The $426 million Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP) anchored by the proposed 170,000-acre-foot Glade Reservoir presently being debated in northern Colorado would transform the state’s only federally designated Wild and Scenic River to a mere trickling ditch as it passes by the recreation paths now offering aesthetic appeal to an economic engine flowing through Fort Collins.

Not surprisingly, Fort Collins and the similarly large cities of Greeley, Loveland and Longmont don’t plan to participate in the NISP/Glade Reservoir project, although many smaller northern Colorado towns with designs on rapid growth and development do.

The proposal is risky for a number of reasons, certainly the potential death of one of Colorado’s most treasured resources among them. At a time when nearly 1,000 river restoration projects are underway throughout the Rocky Mountain region, new dams and colossal reservoirs simply seem to fly in the face of logic in the New West.

In many cases, as with the Eagle River, environmental restoration contributes directly to what academics have dubbed “amenities-based economies.” And while literally thousands go out of their way each summer to ride the rapids, photograph or simply enjoy the ambiance of the Poudre River, I’m willing to bet my favorite fly rod that less than half would do the same to water ski over yet another Front Range reservoir.

Of course we all need water to live. But in a world of misguided intentions, opportunities are overlooked every day.

Look no further than Golden, Pueblo and now Glenwood Springs for evidence to the contrary as not only rivers, but entire communities have been revitalized by in-stream enhancements known as whitewater parks. Literally tens of millions of dollars in annual revenue generated have been attributed to these parks, with little hint of environmental degradation as kayakers, rafters, inner- tubers and even surfers make their way to ride the river waves.

These parks, dozens of which have been built into Rocky Mountain rivers — are not the answer to growing water needs in a thirsty state apparently unwilling to take conservation seriously, but they offer an established economic anchor for any riverside town interested in dipping a ladle in Colorado’s increasingly tourist-based economy. Permanently plugging up rivers could easily have the opposite impact.

Money can buy many things, sometimes including buying your river back. But it seems to make a heck of a lot more sense to just keep it in the first place.

Scott Willoughby covers action sports and high-country lifestyle issues. He can be reached at 303-954-1993 or swilloughby@denverpost.com.

More in Sports

“This is one of the great jobs in all of sports,” Colorado AD RIck George said Sunday. “There's not a better job in America than here in Colorado." Translation: If you’re not here to win championships, pal, don’t join the party.

If recent history is any indication, Helton likely faces an uphill climb to become the first Colorado player inducted into Cooperstown because of the bias that voters tend to hold against hitters who spent their careers playing home games at elevation.

The inspiration for the nickname came from "the outdoors, the sunshine, that feeling you get when you live here in Colorado," Vibes general manager Chris Phillips explained during Monday's name unveiling.

In his long-running role as the Chargers’ yappy quarterback, Rivers is the football villain Denver loves to hate most. On this November afternoon, Rivers inexplicably decided to pick a fight with Harris, the Broncos’ shutdown corner.